Dr Rehua Smallman BDS (Otago)

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About me

“I enjoy making the experience of coming to me as pleasant as possible. Visiting the dentist can be an unnerving experience for some patients, so I strive to make them comfortable by creating a casual atmosphere where we can both relax. I also want my patients to feel that they understand as much about their mouths as I do – so that they are fully informed and can make informed decisions about their oral health for themselves.”

Rehua graduated from Otago University in 2006. He began his working life in the Dental unit of Kenepuru hospital. Following this, he worked in Sydney for three years in a Private Biological Dental Practice. After an OE in 2010, Rehua returned home to the Wellington region and joined the Gentle Dental Team.

As a valued member of Gentle Dental Family, Rehua enjoys dentistry, and has a particular interest in biological dentistry; he will consider the whole picture of a patient’s health in his diagnosis and treatment planning. He prefers a model of long-term prevention rather than treatment and practises conservative dentistry – that is, treatments that involve minimal intervention to augment the natural healing mechanism of the teeth, rather than fillings where possible.

Some procedures that Rehua takes a special interest in are replacing amalgam fillings, difficult extractions and resin infiltrations – a special type of filling with no drilling required!

Rehua has changed many people’s perceptions of visiting the dentist – his attention to patients’ feelings and wellbeing results in many patients remarking that coming to Gentle Dental was the best dental experience they have ever had, and that they understand more about their mouths than ever before.